Federal prosecutors have informed the family of Ronald Greene that they will not be bringing charges in the 2019 arrest that led to Greene's death. This decision marks the conclusion of a lengthy FBI investigation into the actions of white troopers involved in the incident and allegations of a cover-up by the Louisiana State Police.
The U.S. Justice Department shared this decision with Greene's family while also preparing to release findings from a broader civil rights investigation. This investigation revealed a pattern of state troopers using excessive force, as reported by officials familiar with the inquiry.
The civil rights investigation, initiated in 2022, was prompted by an AP investigation that uncovered multiple cases of state troopers engaging in misconduct, including the use of excessive force. One such case involved a white trooper severely beating a Black man during a traffic stop.
The body-camera footage of Greene's arrest, which was released by AP in 2021, showed troopers using stun guns and physical force on Greene, who was pleading for mercy. The footage raised questions about the initial account provided by state police, which attributed Greene's death to a crash following a high-speed chase.
An autopsy reexamination ordered by the FBI debunked the crash narrative and identified factors such as neck compression and physical struggle as contributing to Greene's death. Despite the evidence, federal prosecutors faced challenges in pursuing charges against the troopers involved.
The federal investigation also focused on allegations of obstruction of justice by state police officials, including the suppression of video evidence and pressuring of prosecutors. While some state charges were filed against officers, the federal case did not result in indictments due to various factors, including the death of a key trooper involved in the incident.
Greene's family has filed a federal wrongful death lawsuit seeking damages from the officers, which remains pending. The civil case was put on hold as criminal proceedings unfolded.